Kinetoscopic apparatus.



J. E. LAGERGREN.

KINETOSGOPIG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1907.

. 939 ,2'74, Patented Nov. 9, 1909. Y

N V: N TOR A TTOHNEY UNITED STATES PATENT onruon.

JOHN E. LAGERGREN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE IKONOGRAPH COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

KINETOSCOPIO APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN LAonnonnN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, inthe county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kinetoscopic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Kinetoscopy, i. e. the art of projectin images so as to produce the effect of life an motlon, employs in some of its most successful devices as means for carrying pictures, flexible films, preferably made of celluloid or other similar products of nitrocellulose. It is a. well known fact that this material is of a highly inflammable nature and, since in the projection of moving pictures it becomes necessary to condense rays of radiant energy, such as light, upon that part of the picture carrier just passing through the optical axis of a kinetoscopic a paratus, and since it may occur that, acc1dentally, the film is held stationary in the focal plane for an appreciable period of time, it may happen that the rays of radiant energy emanating from the source of light and heat and concentrated and condensed upon the film, cause instantaneous combustion of the film and, consequently, serious danger of fire. In order to avoid this danger, the present invention employs means between the source of radiant energy and the film, to intercept the rays when the film is kept stationary in the optical axis of the condensing and projecting lenses, while it allows the passage of the rays when the film is travelin It will be seen that the operation of t is means is directly opposite to the operation of the common shutter usually employed in apparatus of this general character, which latter intercepts the light when the film is travelin and allows the passage of light when the %lm is kept stationar Thejinvention is illustrated in one 0 its forms in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a frontand Fig. 2 a sideelevation of this lmprovement in kineto-- scopic apparatus.

The frame 1 carries suitable bearing lugs 2 for a rotatable shaft 3. This shaft is provided with a gear 4, forming part of the train of gears or operating the picture carrying film or plate and is, as such part, well known in the art. A crank '5 serves I to rotate the shaft 3 and a collar 6 on this shaft forms a rest for a helical spring 7, the other end of which bears against one ofthe lugs 2. A slight pressure on the crank in the direction ofthe axis of the shaft, causes a lateral displacement of the same and of gear 4. and, on ceasing the pressure, the

. spring 7 returns the shaft and gear to its normal position.

The flexible film or picture carrier 8 travelsthrough the focal plane of the apparatus between the frame 1 and the plate 9, passing the opening 10 where it is illuminated by light focused upon it from a suitable source 0 light, held in the casing or lamphouse 14:.

A shutter 11 normally closes the opening 10 and prevents the light and heat rays from striking the picture film. The shutter is pivoted at '12 to the frame 1 and is provided with a nose l3, resting against the side of the gear 4. The'lateral displacement of the shaft 3 and gear 1 causes a corresponding displacement of the shutter 11, whereby the opening 10 and the film 8, traveling therethrough, are exposed to the rays of radiant energy. The operator of the apparatus, in turnin the crank for the purpose of moving the 1m, by a slight pressure in removes the shutter from the opening, while as soon as he ceases to operate the crank and removes his hand from the apparatus, the spring 15 returns the shutter to its normal position and intercepts the passage of light and heat from the lamphouse 14, so that when the film is at rest, it is not exposed to the rays of heat which ma cause its combustion. It is not necessary t at the shutter be made of opaque material, such as metal, hard rubber, etc., but the shutter. may be made of any heat absorbing material, such as a plate of rock salt, mica, colored glass, etc., or may consist of a liquid cell containing a heat absorbent, such as a solution of alum, white or colored, etc.

7 As new and useful is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States v w 1. The combination in a kinetoscope, of an axially movable driving shaft, .a shutter, and means adapted to displace said shutter on axial movement of said shaft independent of its rotation. s

an axially movable driving shaft, a crank 2. The combination in a kinetoscope, of

Patented Nov. 9, 1969.

the direction of the axis of the shaft, also rigidly mounted on said shaft, a shutter, and means adapted-to displace said shutter on axial movement of said shaft,

3. The combination in a kinetoscope with a frame, having an opening, of an axially movable driving shaft on said frame, a shutter for said opening, and means adapted to displace said shutter on axial movement of said shaft independent of its rotation.

4. The combination in a kinetoscope with a frame, having an opening, of an axially movable driving shaft on said frame, a crank rigidly mounted on said shaft, a

shutter for said opening, and means adapted to displace said shutter on axial movement 15 of said shaft.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th 20 day of February, 1907.

JOHN E. LAGERGREN.

In presence of- RALPH J. SAOHERS, S. HERZOG. 

